Apparel carrier



Mmh 2s, 195o B; P. BOHN 2,502,033

APPAREL CARRIER Filed March 25, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet l Mmh 28, 195o B. P.BOHN APPAREL CARRIER Fild Maron 25, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 28, 1950B. P. Bol-IN 2,502,033

APPAREL CARRIER v Filed March 25, 1947 4 sneets-sneet s March 28, 1950B. P. BoHN 2,502,033

APPAREL CARRIER Filed March 25, 1947 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Mar. 28,1950 UNITED STATES .PTENT OFFICE 2,502,033 V APPAREL CARRIER ,l r y lBeatrice P. Bohn, Sea Girt, N. J.

Application March 25, 1947, Serial No. 736,965

This invention relates to an improved portable carrier means into whichmay be packed wearing apparel and personal necessities for carriage bytravelers; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to anovel carrier means of light weight, small bulk and neat appearance.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel carrier meanscomprising a flexible body which, in open condition, maybe out spread ini'lat lying extension so that a garment or garments to be carried can besmoothly laid thereupon, and then enclosed by covering means with whichthe body is provided, whereupon said body, together with the containedgarment or garments, may be smoothly rolled endwise upon itself into acompact roll formation of compara tively small bulk, said body beingprovided with manipulatable closure members for closing the ends of therolled body, and means being also provided by which the closed carrierroll may be conveniently carried by the user.

The invention has for another object to provide a carrier rollstructure, characterized as above set forth, which includes compartmentmeans for additionally carrying undergarments, ysmall articles ofpersonal use, andthe like. Other objects of this inventionnotat thistime more particularly enumerated, will be understood Afrom thefollowing detailed description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of the inventionrs shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a pictorial view of the novel carrier roll .of this inventionas packed and carried by a user.

Fig. 2 is an interior face view of the carrier roll in open conditionforI packing; Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view of thesame; Fig. 4 is an interior face View of the carrier roll in opencondition, but with its garment carrying section closed by the garmentcovering means with which it is provided; Fig. 5 is an exterior faceView of the carrier roll in the condition shown in Fig. 4, parts beingbroken away; Fig. 6 is an interior face View of the carrier roll in aninitial stage of the rolling of the same to closed condition; Fig. 7 isa view similar to Fig. 6 showing a further advanced stage of the rollingof the same to closed condition; Fig. 8 is an elevational view of thecarrier roll as completely rolled and closed but before the girdlingstraps thereof are secured; and Fig. 9 is a view similar to that of Fig.8, but with the girdling straps thereof secured.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the top edge of a garmentcovering section with which the roll body is provided.

Fig. ll is a fragmentary perspective View of a transverse reenforcingbar with which the body of the' carrier roll is provided.

3 Claims. (Cl. 190-43) Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional View showingmeans for coupling carrier straps to the carrie roll.

Fig. 13 is an interior face view of an end closure for the carrierroller as provided in a detachable form thereof.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary interior face view of the carrier roll bodyprovided with a modied form of auxiliary compartment means; and Fig. l5is a similar view showing another modified form of auxiliary compartmentmeans. I

Similar characters of reference are employed in the hereinabovedescribed views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, the reference character 2t indicates the bodyof the novel carrier roll R according to this invention, the samecomprising a rectangular body of flexible material of suitable width andlength, which may comprise one or more plies or layers of selected`flexi-A ble material or materials. For example, the body 2t may be madeof textile fabric, leather, or other selected flexible sheet material,which may be, and preferably is water-proofed or of Water resistantcharacteristics. If desired, the interior side of the body 20 mayinclude a facing or lining of suitable fabric or other material.

At its upper or the leading end fromwhich it is to be rolled, said body20 is formed tov provide a tubular loop or sleeve section 2l in which isinserted a rigid roller element 22. Preferably, this roller element 22comprises a hollow tubular member closed at its ends, and at least atone end, and preferably at both ends, by detachable closure members 23.As thus formed, said roller element 22 not only provides a means tofacilitate the operation of rolling up the carrier roll body and itscontent into closed condition, butadditionally provides a carryingcompartment 24 in which may be inserted and carried small articles ofpersonal necessity, such e. g. as toilet articles, toilet preparations,cosmetics and the like.

At its lower end portion, or exterior roll-cover portion when rolled,said body 20 is provided in connection with its interior face, with apocket or pouch which, as shown, in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 6 and '7, comprisesseparable front Wall sections 25 and 26 made of suitable iiexiblematerial, the meeting margins of which are equipped with cooperativeslide fastener means 21, whereby the pocket or pouch may be opened andclosed at will. Said pocket or pouch provides a separate auxiliarycompartment in which the user of the carrier roll may packundergarments, stockings, handkerchiefs and other small articles ofapparel'or the like. The detail form and construction of said pocket orpouch is subject to more or less variation in form and construction. Forexample, as shown in Fig. 14, the same may comprise a pocket formingwall 28 of selected depth, and a cooper'fl ating overlapping closure ap29, which may be secured in closed position by snap fastener means 30.Again, as shown in Fig. 15, the pocket or pouch may comprise a pocketforming wall 3l of selected depth, and a cooperating closure flap 32which may be secured in closed position by button-hole tabs 33 adaptedto be releasably engaged with buttons 33 affixed to the exterior face ofsaid pocket forming wall 3l. The roll-cover portion of body 2D will formthe outermost convolution of the completed roll so access to the pocketsmay be gained by only partially uri-rolling the roll-cover portion.

Aixed respectively to opposite longitudinal side marginal portions ofthe mid-section of the body 20, so as to swing in and out about saidmarginal portions, are interior cover sections 34 of substantial length,the upper ends of which terminate in suitably spaced relation to andbelow the roller element 22 at the upper or leading end of said body 20,while the lower ends of which terminate Ain suitably spaced relation toand above the lower or exterior roll-cover end portion of said body 2Uand its included auxiliary comn partment forming pocket or pouch. Themeeting vfree longitudinal edges of said interior cover sections 34 areequipped with cooperative slide fasn tener means 35 by which said coversections 34 may be releasably secured together in closed over relation4to the interior face of said mid-section ofthe body 20 and a garment orgarments superposed thereon. Said cover sections 34 are preferably madeof comparatively thin or light weight textile fabric. At theirtransverse upper ends, said cover sections 34 are each provided with ahollow 'hem portion 36 within which is enclosed an elastic strap 31.Said straps 3l are respectively anchored at their outer ends to the body20 and are respectively provided at their inner or meeting ends one withthe hook element 38 of a hook and eye fastener means and the other withthe eye element 39 of said fastener means.

Affixed to the body 2G, as by an anchoring retainer sleeve 40, which isstitched or otherwise suitably secured thereto, is a transverse rigidbar 4I disposed to extend in substantially aligned relation to thetransverse upper ends of said cover "section34 when the covers arespread open and to underlie the elasticfstraps in parallelism therewith'when the covers are closed.

Connected respectively with the opposite longitudinal side margins ofthe body 20, preferably at points suitably spaced above the extremity ofthe lower or exterior roll-cover end portion of said body, are circularroll end closure members 42, which are suitably stiifened to possess asubstantial degree of rigidity and of a diameter substan- 'tially equalto that of the periphery of the rolled body. The peripheral edges ofsaid roll end closure members 42 and those portions of the longitudinalside edges ofthe body 2li which are coext-ensive with the roll-coverportion thereof are equipped with cooperative slide fastener means 43,'by which said roll end closure members 42 may bereleasably secured inclosing relation to trie ends/of the body 2t, when the latter is rolledintojultimate carrier roll forming condition.

[' Whi'le itis perhaps preferable that said roll end closure `members42v be connected with the body v,20,150 as to be non-separabletherefrom, it will nevertheless be understood that the same may beprovided in the` form of parts separable from the body 20, when thecooperative slide fastener means thereof are, in released condition (seeF18. 13)

Attached by anchoring connections 44 which are centrally affixed to therespective roll end closure members 42, preferably in swiveling relationthereto, so as to project from exterior faces of the latter, is acarrier sling means. In a preferred form thereof, said carrier slingmeans comprises separable suspension strap sections 45 and 46 whichrespectively extend from the anchoring connections 44 of the respectiveroll end closure members 42. The meeting ends of said suspension strapsections 45 and 46 are respectively equipped with cooperative couplingelements, one e. g. comprising a ring or eye 47 and the other a snaphook 48, by means of which said strap sections may be releasably joinedtogether in carrier sling means forming relation.

The outer side or face of the lower or exterior roll-cover portion ofthe body 25 may, if desired, have applied thereto l an external facing49 of ornamental or decorative material, andthe outer sides of the rollend closure members 42 may be likewise correspondingly faced, so that,when the body 2l] is rolled and closed into ultimate carrier roll formedcondition, its external appearance will be attractive and pleasing.

Aixed to the outer side or face of the lower or exterior roll-coverportion of the body 29 are one or more girdle straps 50, but preferablytwo thereof arranged to be disposed respectively adjacent opposite endportions of the carrier roll when the body 20 is rolled into the carrierroll formation. Each said girdle strap 5t is axed by a mid-portionthereof to the body 20 so as to provide a free buckle end portion 5I anda free tongue end portion 52. Said end portions 5| and 52 are adapted tobe releasably engaged whereby to secure the girdle straps in encirclingrelation to the carrier roll formation and thus retain the latter inrolled condition.

To arrange the body 2D for reception of the apparel desired to be packedtherein for carriage, said body is unrolled and spread out in natextension, with its cover sections 34 released and outswung to openposition (see Fig. 2). An

outer garment to be packed, such e. g. asa dress D, is smoothlysuperposed upon the inner face of the mid-section of the body 2G, andpositioned so as to be enclosed by the cover sections 34, when thelatter are inswung and joined. In somecases, it may be preferable to laythe dress D substantially in the position shown in Fig. 2. In othercases, it may be desirable to so dispose the dress that the shoulderportions thereof lap the bar 4l with which the body 20 is provided,whereby, when the cover sections 34 are closed and the elastic straps3'! thereof are joined, said elastic straps will tend to iiatly presssaid shoulder portions of the dress against the bar 4 I, so as to betterretain said shoulder portions smoothly spread and held against shift.Either method of dress disposition may be resorted to as best suits theconvenience and desire of the user of the carrier roll. It will beunderstood that within reasonable limits, more than one garment may bearranged and packed for carriage in the manner described.

The dress D having been placed in position, the cover sections 34 areclosed over the same, and joined in closed relation by the slidefastener means 35 with which their meeting edges are equipped. At thesame time, the elastic straps 3T are joined by engaging the hook and eyefastener elements 38-55 with which their free ends are provided (seeFig. 4).

Undergarments, stockings, handkerchiefs and other small articles ofapparel and the like having been packed in the auxiliary compartment provided by the pocket or pouchv with which the lower end portion of thebody is provided, and small articles of personal necessity having beenpacked in the carrying compartment 24 provided by the hollow rollerelement 22 with which the upper end of the body 20 is provided, saidbody 20 is thereupon ready to be rolled up into the ultimate carrierroll formation. Utilizing the roller element 22 as a rolling aid andguide, the body 20, with the enveloped dress D, is rolled endwise uponitself about said roller element 22, whereby the contained dress issmoothly convolved and rmly held, within the convolutions of the body20, against shifting, rumpling or mussing, and is thereby so enclosed asto be effectively protected against dust, dirt and the elements. Thebody 20 and its content having been thus rolled into the ultimatecarrier roll formation, the girdle straps 50 are secured in operativeencircling relation thereto so as to retain said formation, whereuponthe4 roll end closure members 42 are swung inwardly to closed positionsagainst the roll ends, and then joined to the latter by the slidefastener means 43 with which the peripheries thereof and the contiguousside longitudinal edge portions of the body 20 are equipped, thuscompleting the ultimate carrier roll formation.

From the above description and an inspection of Figs. 1 and 9 of thedrawings, more particularly, it will be obvious that the carrier rollformation is of comparatively small bulk and provides a compact and veryneat and attractive appearance. Furthermore, since the form ofconstruction and character of the materials entering thereinto involvesno heavy framework and unduly heavy materials, it will be obvious thatthe invention provides a carrier means for the intended purposes whichis of relatively light weight, while at the same time one which issubject to easy carriage with little physical effort.

A very convenient means for carrying the carrier roll is provided by thestrap sections 45-46 which, when joined by the coupling elements "-48with which their free meeting ends are provided, form a carrier slingmeans extending between the ends of the carrier roll. Said carrier slingmeans can be slung over a shoulder of the user, so as to suspend thecarrier roll therefrom, thus leaving both hands of the user free y forother uses (see Fig. 1).

Although the carrier roll of this invention is especially well adaptedfor use by women as an overnight bag or carrier, it will be understoodthat it may also be sized and arranged to serve equally well for use bymen for the carriage of mens apparel, toilet necessities, etc.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. In a carrier for the purposes described, an elongated rectangularbody of llexible material capable of being rolled endwise upon itselftogether with wearing apparel superposed thereon into a convolved rollformation, a tubular roller element substantially equal in length to thenarrow dimension of the rectangular body and being affixed to the innerleading end thereof in parallelism therewith, the interior of saidroller element being adapted to provide a container for miscellaneousarticles, circular end closure memb ers for cooperation with the ends ofthe rolled body andv being adapted to mask the ends of the tubularroller element, and means for releasably securing said end closuremembers to the side edges of the outermost convolution-forming poi"-tion of the rolled body.

2. In a carrier for the purposes described, an elongated rectangularbody of ilexible material comprising an inner end portion and an outerroll-cover end portion, the said body being capable of being rolledendwise from the leading edge of its inner end portion together withwearing apparel supe-rposed thereon into a convolved roll formation ofwhich the roll-cover portion forms the outermost convolution,pouch-forming means connected with the inner face of the said roll-coverportion of the body, circular end closure members for cooperation withthe ends of the rolled body, and cooperative slide fastener meansconnected with the peripheries of said end closure members and withlongitudinal edges of the roll-cover portion of the body contiguousthereto, whereby to be manipulatable to releasably secure said endclosure members to said ends of the rolled body and to permit access tosaid pouch-forming means when the slides are moved into partially openpositions but not far enough to release the end closure memberscompletely.

3. In a carrier for the purposes described, an elongated rectangularbody of flexible material capable of being rolled endwise upon itselffrom an inner leading edge together with wearing apparel superposedthereon into a convolved roll formation, foldable interior coversections respectively extending from opposite longitudinal side marginalportions of the mid-section of said body adapted to be closed over thewearing apparel superposed on said body and to be rolled up with thesame, cooperative slide fastener means on the meeting edges of saidcover sections for releasably securing the same in apparel coveringrelation, a transverse rigid bar connected with said body to underliethe inner transverse edges of said cover sections, elastic strapssupported in connection with said inner transverse edges of the coversections, inner ends of said straps being affixed to said coversections, and cooperative releasable fastening means at the free ends ofsaid straps operative to join the latter under tension when the coversections are secured in apparel covering relation, whereby said strapsbind the apparel against said rigid bar.

BEATRICE P. BOHN.

REFERENCE S CITED 'Ihe following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 17,118 Granger Oct. 30, 1928456,433 Rue July 21, 1891 510,723 Sweet Dec. 12, 1893 783,811 Allen Feb.28, 1905 1,094,009 Parkhurst Apr. 2l, 1914 1,110,907 Dean and MarinisSept. 15, 1914 1,703,450 Jakku Feb. 26, 1929 1,736,383 Waggoner Nov. 19,1929 2,035,427 Goldstein Mar. 24, 1936 2,314,914 Wilson et al. Mar. 30,1943 2,385,053 Bohn Sept. 18, 1945 2,423,297 Creamer July 1, 1947FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 6,726 Great Britain of 1896 132,703Great Britain Sept. 25, 1919

